U.S. Fire Administration/National Fire Data Center

Non-Residential Structure


Fires in 2000


Topical Fire Research Series, Volume 3 – Issue 10


 June 2004 
T O P I C A L F I R E R E S E A R C H S E R I E S


Non-Residential Structure Fires in 2000 

June 2004 Volume 3, Issue 10 

Findings 

H In 2000, 126,000 non-residential structure fires resulted in 90 fatalities, 2,200 

injuries, and $2.8 billion in property loss. 

H On average, non−residential structure fires were less injurious and deadly than 

structure fires generally, but the monetary property loss was higher. 

H The highest percentage of non−residential structure fires occurred in storage 

structures, which included parking garages. 

H The leading cause of non-residential fires was incendiary/suspicious (arson) 

fires. 

H No smoke alarm was present in 72% of non-residential structure fires. 

Non−residential structures are ubiquitous in American lives. We work, meet, learn, shop, dine, park cars, and 

store things in non−residential structures. A fire in a non−residential structure can impact a business, the economy 

of a city, an entire industry—not to mention the deaths and injuries that can result from such incidents. Based on 

data taken from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), non−residential structure fires account for 

only 8% of all fires in the United States, and only one-quarter of all fires that take place in structures; however, 

they are among the most costly of all fires.1,2 There were an estimated 126,000 non−residential structure fires in 

2000, resulting in 90 fatalities, 2,200 injuries, and $2.8 billion in property loss.3 

LOSS MEASURES 

As Figure 1 shows, non-residential structure fires have a higher rate of property loss than all structure fires and 

all fires generally. They are, however, less deadly and injurious than all structure fires (three−quarters of which are 

residential structures).4 

FIGURE 1. LOSS MEASURES FOR 

NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRES 

Loss All All Structure Non-Residential 

Measure Fires Fires Fires 

$ Loss/Fire $6,601 $16,219 $24,671 

Fatalities/1,000 Fires 2.4 5.7 1.0 

Injuries/1,000 Fires 15.2 39.9 23.4 

Source: NFIRS only 

S Federal Emergency Management Agency 

United States Fire Administration S National Fire Data Center 

Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/inside−usfa/nfdc/pubs/tfrs.shtm 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

1 
The higher property loss might be because non−residential structures are often larger and more expensive than 

residential structures and the contents of the structures have high value. For example, non−residential structures 

include parking garages, which are filled with costly vehicles. Unlike in homes, fire evacuation procedures may be 

in place in non−residential structures, which may explain the comparatively lower rates of death and injury. Additionally, fire codes often require inspections of non−residential structures; such inspections are not as prevalent for 

residential structures. This may be another reason for the lower rate of incidence, death, and injury in non−residential structure fires. 

WHERE FIRES OCCUR 

The highest percentage of non-residential structure fires take place in storage facilities (Figure 2); and the 

highest percentage of storage fires are in parking garages. Industrial structures account for the lowest percentage of 

non−residential structure fires. Figure 3 shows that the leading area of fire origin in non−residential structure fires 

is vehicle storage areas, which is consistent with the fact that the highest percentage of non−residential structure 

fires take place in storage facilities. This is not necessarily unexpected. Of all non−residential structures, parking 

garages may be the most susceptible to fires. They are enclosed structures housing gasoline−filled cars and perhaps 

other flammable materials, and cars left alone are often arson targets. 

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 

Assembly 

Educational 

Health Care, Detention 

Business 

Industrial 

Manufacturing 

Storage 

Special Property 

Percent 

NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRES BY PROPERTY TYPE 

14.1 

6.6 

6.6 

19.8 

2.9 

9.9 

30.9 

9.0 

FIGURE 2. FIGURE 3. NON-RESIDENTIAL 

STRUCTURE FIRES BY 

LEADING AREAS OF ORIGIN 

Area of Origin Fires (%) 

Vehicle Storage Area, Carport 11.0 

Cooking Area, Kitchen 9.9 

Wall Surface, Exterior 6.4 

Storage Area, Other 5.1 

Source: NFIRS 

Source: NFIRS 

When examining losses, the highest percentage of property loss occurs in mercantile−business structures, 

deaths in storage facilities, and injuries in manufacturing structures (Figure 4). 

CAUSES AND HEAT SOURCES 

The highest percentage of non−residential structure fires are incendiary/suspicious (Figure 5). This is consistent with the fact that the leading type of property in non−residential fires is storage facilities. Many parking 

garages and storage facilities are susceptible to arson because they are not as closely monitored, well lit, or protected as other non−residential structures, such as office buildings and manufacturing plants. Other key leading 

causes of non−residential structure fires are electrical distribution and cooking. Comparatively, a much higher percentage of residential structure fires are caused by cooking and heating. 

Radiated and conducted heat from operating equipment is the leading heat source in non−residential structure 

fires, followed by electrical arcing and heat, sparks, or flame from operating equipment (Figure 6). 

2 
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 

Assembly 

Health Care, Detention 

Industrial 

Storage 

Educational 

Mercantile, Business 

Manufacturing 

Special Property 

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Percent 

FIRE LOSSES IN NON−RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES 

FATALITIES INJURIES

15.0 

1.5 

4.9 

24.1 

3.7 

26.3 

21.6 

2.6 

10.0 

7.5 

2.5 

35.0 

2.5 

27.5 

7.5 

7.5 

11.5 

13.0 

3.0 

19.6 

6.7 

18.7 

23.7 

3.8 

FIGURE 4. 

PROPERTY LOSS 

Source: NFIRS 

Heat Source Fires (%) 

Radiated or conducted 21.7 

heat from equipment 

Electrical arcing 14.3 

Heat from operating 7.2 

equipment, other 

Spark, ember, or flame 7.0 

from operating equipment 

0 5 10 15 20 25 

Incendiary/Suspicious 

Children Playing 

Smoking 

Heating 

Cooking 

Electrical Distribution 

Appliances 

Open Flame 

Other Heat 

Other Equipment 

Exposure 

Natural 

Percent 

CAUSES OF NON−RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRES 

(unknowns apportioned) 

20.3 

1.5 

4.8 

8.6 

11.0 

11.6 

6.1 

8.9 

3.8 

7.8 

10.7 

4.9 

FIGURE 5. 

Source: NFIRS 

Source: NFIRS 

WHEN FIRES OCCUR 

Unlike structure fires, non−residential structure fires do not follow a discernable seasonal trend, as shown in 

Figure 7. This is likely because structure fires generally are caused by cooking and heating—which have seasonal 

relationships—while 20% of non−residential structure fires are ignited by incendiary/suspicious causes, which are 

not seasonally linked. 

Non−residential structure fires follow the same trend for time of day as all structure fires and fires generally, 

but not as dramatically. Although all structure fires peak at the dinner hour, the highest percentage of non− 

residential structure fires ignite between 2 and 3 p.m (Figure 8). 

SMOKE ALARMS 

No smoke alarm was present in 72% of non-residential structure fires; alarms were present and operated in 

only 17% of non-residential structure incidents (Figure 9). From these statistics, it can be inferred that working 

and effective smoke alarms in non-residential structures are detecting fires, which are then extinguished before it is 

necessary to report them. Another possibility is that non−residential structures with alarms—evidence of responsible building management or compliance with fire codes—also have comprehensive fire prevention plans that are 

effectively working in preventing fires. 

FIGURE 6. NON−RESIDENTIAL


STRUCTURE FIRES BY


LEADING HEAT SOURCES


3 
0 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12 

NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRES BY MONTH 

All Structures 

All Fires 

Percent 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 

Non−Residential 

Structures 

FIGURE 7. 

Source: NFIRS 

0 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRES BY TIME OF DAY 

All Structures 

All Fires 

Time of Day 

Percent 

Non−Residential 

Structures 

00:00-

01:59 

02:00− 

03:59 

04:00− 

05:59 

06:00− 

07:59 

08:00− 

09:59 

10:00− 

11:59 

12:00− 

13:59 

14:00− 

15:59 

16:00− 

17:59 

18:00− 

19:59 

20:00− 

21:59 

22:00− 

23:59 

FIGURE 8. 

Source: NFIRS 

SMOKE ALARM 

PRESENCE AND OPERATION 

IN NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRES 

72.3% 

Alarm operated 

16.8% 

Alarm failed 

to operate 

3.0% 

Fire too small 

to activate 

4.7% 

Operation 

unknown 

3.2% 

FIGURE 9. 

No alarm present 

Source: NFIRS 

EXAMPLES 

December 3, 1999: Six firefighters were killed in a fire in an abandoned cold storage warehouse in Worcester, 

MA. Firefighters were searching for two homeless individuals known to live in the building when they became 

disoriented and trapped. Other firefighters searching for their missing colleagues also became trapped and perished 

in the blaze. The fire was caused by a candle that had tipped over. Six firefighters were lost in this blaze.5 

4 
October 16, 2000: Firefighters in Gettysburg, PA responded to a multiple-alarm building fire in a warehouse. 

The building was fully engulfed in fire upon their arrival. The fire began to spread to an apartment building across 

the street, but firefighters managed to control the fire before it caused significant damage to that building. Officials 

suspect the fire was intentionally set.6 

January 2, 2002: Firefighters battled a fire that damaged much of a historic Philadelphian landmark building 

that was built in 1815. The building had recently undergone a $4.5 million renovation. A faulty wire supplying a 

ceiling fan caused the fire.7 

CONCLUSION 

Fires in non−residential structures are serious, costly, and dangerous. In addition to taking lives, these fires can 

have a significant economic impact on a community—sometimes leading to lost jobs and closed businesses. A key 

aspect of reducing non−residential structure fires is reducing arson, the leading cause of non−residential structure 

fires. 

Business owners and managers of non−residential structures must be vigilant in installing and maintaining 

smoke alarms, even if not required by local ordinance. Such devices have proved effective in saving lives and 

reducing property losses resulting from fires. 

Individuals can also participate in the prevention of non−residential structure fires. People should learn the 

emergency evacuation procedures of the office buildings they work in, the stores and businesses they frequent, and 

the parking garages in which they leave their cars. They should also inquire about the presence of smoke alarms 

and overall security in these structures—and be sure to report anyone acting strangely or mysteriously. 

To request additional information, comment on this report, or review the detailed 

methodology used in this analysis, visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov/feedback/ . 

Notes: 

1. Structure fire statistics in this report do not include mobile structures. 

2. Distribution statistics are based on data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS 2000). At the time of this 

report, NFIRS is transitioning from version 4.1 to 5.0. Approximately 79% of the fire incident data for 2000 was reported to the 

USFA in NFIRS 4.1 format and converted to 5.0. 

3. Estimates of the U.S. fire problem are taken from the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) annual survey, Fire Loss in the 

United States. 

4. Loss measures and rates are based on NFIRS 2000 data. 

5. “Six firefighters missing in blaze at vacant building,” The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, December 4, 1999. 

6. “PA Bravest Battle Arson Fire,” Firehouse Web site, November 8, 2000. http://www.firehouse.com. 

7. “Fire damages historic engine house: Building’s heart of $24M restoration,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 2, 2002. 

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